Universal female coaxial connector

ABSTRACT

A novel female coaxial connector adapted for universal use as a push-on or quick-disconnect connector and as a threaded connector, embodying a novel outer-conductor combined threaded and resilient sleeve terminal section that, with a common resilient, inner-conductor, clip-like contact means, provides for universal connection with both types of connectors.

United States Patent [191 Zarro [451 Dec. 31 1974 UNIVERSAL FEMALE COAXIAL CONNECTOR [75] Inventor: Michael Zarro, Fords, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc., Old Bridge, NJ.

[22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 426,223

[52] US. Cl. 339/32, 339/177 [51] Int. Cl. HOlr 27/00, H01r 17/18 [58] Field of Search 339/32, 33, 69-73, 339/89, 177

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,719,279 9/1955 Muckler 339/177 E 3,293,592 12/1966 Blonder 339/177 R 3,452,323 6/1969 Bowley et al. 339/177 R 3,525,973 8/1970 Kipnes 339/177 R 3,639,889 2/1972 Komadina 339/177 E OTHER PUBLICATIONS Lafayette Radio Electronics Catalog No. 740, Page 445, Lightning Protector-42E-20018 Primary Examiner-Roy Lake Assistant Examiner-Craig R. Feinberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rines and Rines; Shapiro and Shapiro [5 7 ABSTRACT A novel female coaxial connector adapted for universal use as a push-on or quick-disconnect connector and as a threaded connector, embodying a novel outer-conductor combined threaded and resilient sleeve terminal section that, with a common resilient, innerconductor, clip-like contact means, provides for universal connection with both types of connectors.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure UNIVERSAL FEMALE COAXIAL CONNECTOR The present invention relates to female coaxial con nectors, being more particulary directed to such connectors adapted for universal use with both push-on or quick-disconnect type connectors and with threaded type connectors.

Though many different types of coaxial connectors for radio-frequency and other transmission lines and apparatus have been evolved and used throughout the years, such as those described in later-mentioned patents, they have generally fallen into one of two rather inflexible categories; namely, push-on or quickdisconnect type connectors that, through resilient contact devices, enable facile use with appropriate male connectors, and threaded connectors adapted for threaded connection with male connectors Unfortu nately, it has not heretofore been generally feasible to enable interchangeable use of such connectors, or to take advantage of the economies and other benefits in universally adapted apparatus of this character. Examples of such prior connectors are presented in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,001,169, and 3,154,362.

In accordance with the present invention, however, it has now been found possible and practical, with a novel connector construction, to provide such universality with all its benefits, such that a single, simple female coaxial connector may be used with a variety of types of both push-on or quick-disconnect male connectors, and with a variety of threaded connectors, as well; it being thus an object of the invention to provide such a new and improved female coaxial connector.

A further object is to provide a novel connector of more general utility, as well; other and further objects being explained hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In summary, however, the invention embraces a universal female coaxial connector for both push-on and threaded connection usage, having, in combination, a cylindrical outer conductor member extending from one side of a conductive flange and internally containing a resilient inner-conductor contact means insulatingly mounted therein; inner'conductor terminal means insulatingly carried within said member, connected to said inner-conductor contact means, and extending from the other side of said flange; said member terminating beyond said contact means in a threaded section adapted to permit threaded attachment to connectors having external outer-conductor interiorly threaded terminal means, and carrying between said threaded section and said one side of the flange an external sleeve containing resilient flap means for enabling pushon connection with the interior of connectors having interiorly smooth external outer-conductor terminal means of inner diameter slightly greater than that of the outer diameter of the threads of said threaded section; the threads of the said threaded section serving as a stop for the said sleeve, and the outerconductor member serving as a limiting stop for the depth of threaded connection of the threaded section within threaded terminal means; and the said innerconductor contact means receiving male innerconductor terminals of all said terminal means, resiliently to engage and to permit disengagement therefrom.

While the invention will, for illustrative purposes, be described in connection with connectors of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,592 of the present assignee, involving a resilient clip-like inner conductorreceiving contact insulatingly set in an outer conductor sleeve, it will be evident that the features of the invention may also be applied to other types of connectors where the results of the invention are desired. The invention will now be described, accordingly, with reference to the accompanying drawing the single FIGURE of which is a combined side-elevation and section illustrating a preferred embodiment.

Referring to the drawing, the female coaxial connector 7 of the invention is shown adapted for cooperative connection with each of a push-on or quick-disconnect type male connector 2 and a threaded type 3. The interior details of the connector 7, as before explained, may be as described in said Letters Patent, containing a conductive flange 4 carrying on one side a cylindrical outer conductor member 6 (shown extending to the left), and an inner-conductor-connected terminal 8, insulatingly carried at 8 within the member 6 and extending to the right. In contact with the terminal 8 is an inner-conductor resilient clip-like contact 10 for receiving the male inner conductor terminals or extensions 2" and 3 of the respective male connectors 2 and 3, and resiliently conductively and mechanically engaging the same and, of-course, permitting ready disengagement therefrom. The inner-conductor contact member 10 is shown insulatingly mounted at 10 within the outer-conductor cylindrical member 6, for example, described in said U .S. Pat. No. 3,293,592.

In accordance with the invention, the outer surface of the member 6 is constructed of basically two sections; a terminal threaded section 6' extending preferably only about one-third of the length along the member 6, and a sleeve section 6" having a plurality of resilient flaps 6" extending outwardly therefrom and covering substantially the remaining two-thirds of the member 6. The free (left-hand) end or edge of the sleeve 6", which may be a sheet metal slip cylinder clamped over the member 6, is made of diameter just under that of the adjacent threads 6 so that the latter will serve as a stop to prevent the sleeve 6" from sliding off, particularly under the pressures of withdrawing or disengaging the connector 7 from within the quick-connect-and-disconnect connector 2, where the resilient flaps 6" have locked the same within the smooth interior walls 2' of the outer conductor of the connector 2.

The cylindrical outer conductor, moreover, further serves as a limiting stop for the threaded engagement ofthe connector 7 within the interiorly threaded outerconductor 3' of the threaded type connector 3, such that only sufficient insertion of the inner conductors 2" and 3" within 10' is effected. With the relative dimensions abovegiven, thus the connector 7 is enabled to push-on and disconnect from connectors of the type 2, and to be threaded on and off the type connector 3, all with the inner-conductor connections effected in both cases within the resilient inner-conductor-receiving contact 10.

Modifications will occur to those skilled in this art and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A universal female coaxial connector for both push-on and threaded connection usage, having, in combination, a cylindrical outer conductor member extending from one side of a conductive flange and internally containing a resilient inner-conductor contact means insulatingly mounted therein; inner-conductor terminal means insulatingly carried within said member. connected to said inner-conductor contact means, and extending from the other side of said flange; said member terminating beyond said contact means in a threaded section adapted to permit threaded attachment to connectors having external outer-conductor interiorly threaded terminal means, and carrying between said threaded section and said one side of the flange an external sleeve containing resilient flap means extending outwardly therefrom for enabling push-on connection with the interior of connectors having interiorly smooth external outer-conductor terminal means of inner diameter slightly greater than that of the outer diameter of the threads of said threaded section; the threads of the said threaded section serving as a stop for the said sleeve, and the outer conductor member serving as a limiting stop for the depth of threaded connection of the threaded section within threaded terminal means; and the said inner-conductor contact means receiving male inner-conductor terminals of all said terminal means, resiliently to engage and to permit dis-engagement therefrom.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which said threaded section is substantially one-third the length of said member, and said sleeve is substantially two-thirds said length.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which said sleeve comprises a resilient slit cylinder.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which said depth is adjusted to enable adequate innerconductor insertion of a male connector within said contact means. 

1. A universal female coaxial connector for both push-on and threaded connection usage, having, in combination, a cylindrical outer conductor member extending from one side of a conductive flange and interNally containing a resilient inner-conductor contact means insulatingly mounted therein; inner-conductor terminal means insulatingly carried within said member, connected to said inner-conductor contact means, and extending from the other side of said flange; said member terminating beyond said contact means in a threaded section adapted to permit threaded attachment to connectors having external outer-conductor interiorly threaded terminal means, and carrying between said threaded section and said one side of the flange an external sleeve containing resilient flap means extending outwardly therefrom for enabling push-on connection with the interior of connectors having interiorly smooth external outer-conductor terminal means of inner diameter slightly greater than that of the outer diameter of the threads of said threaded section; the threads of the said threaded section serving as a stop for the said sleeve, and the outer conductor member serving as a limiting stop for the depth of threaded connection of the threaded section within threaded terminal means; and the said inner-conductor contact means receiving male inner-conductor terminals of all said terminal means, resiliently to engage and to permit disengagement therefrom.
 2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which said threaded section is substantially one-third the length of said member, and said sleeve is substantially two-thirds said length.
 3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which said sleeve comprises a resilient slit cylinder.
 4. A connector as claimed in claim 1 and in which said depth is adjusted to enable adequate inner-conductor insertion of a male connector within said contact means. 